Contents

Appearance

Qhorin Halfhand is tall and clean-shaven with gray eyes. He lost all fingers but the thumb and forefinger on his right hand to a wildling axe.[2] He wears his grey hair in a long braid.[3]

History

Qhorin is a living legend in the Watch. He is considered to be one of the best rangers within the Watch. He is called Halfhand because he lost all the fingers on his right hand except his thumb and forefinger to a wildling axe. Because of this, he was forced to train himself how to fight left-handed and became just as proficient with his left hand as he had been with his right.[2] He was once a good friend to Mance Rayder before Mance deserted the watch.

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

Qhorin was placed in command of a force from the Shadow Tower charged to meet up with Lord Commander Mormont to participate in the search for Benjen Stark. On the way to the rendezvous, he ran into a wildling scouting party led by Alfyn Crowkiller, which he practically destroyed at the cost of four dead and a dozen wounded. A prisoner taken in the battle revealed that Mance Rayder was in the Frostfangs searching for some magic to bring down the Wall.

When Qhorin finally met up with Lord Commander Mormont at the Fist of the First Men, he advised sending three scouting parties into the mountains to discover what Mance was looking for, one of which he led personally.[2]

Qhorin's party was composed of the brothers Dalbridge, Ebben, Stonesnake and Jon Snow. The patrol got close to Mance's camp before being spotted and forced to retreat with wildlings in hot pursuit. Qhorin tried several methods and diversions to throw off the pursuit, but none of them were successful. In the end, only he and Jon remained, and Qhorin ordered Jon to yield if they were caught, in order to act as a spy. When Rattleshirt caught up with them, Jon did as ordered and was forced to kill Qhorin to show his sincerity.[3]

Quotes by Qhorin

“

We can only die. Why else do we don these black cloaks, but to die in defense of the realm?[2]

”

“

Our honor means no more than our lives, so long as the realm is safe.[3]